Improved machine for capping tacks



J. C. RHODES.

Machine for Capping Tacks. No. 56,268. Patentd m 10,1866;

mfizedgas InVeroZZ mama UNITED STATES JOHN G. RHODES, OF EAST BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CAPPING TACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,268, dated July 10, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. RHODES, of East Bridgewater, of the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful or Improved Machine for Cap ping Tacks, Nails, or Screw-Heads, or, in other words, for covering them with a metallic cover.

or cap; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a transverse section, of the said machine.

In the said drawings, A represents a rotary frame composed of three circular wheels or plates, at b c, and a vertical shaft, d, arranged with respect to each other as shown. The journals of the shaft are sustained in boxes 6 c of a frame, B, the whole being so that the said frame A may be capable of being revolved horizontally about the axis of its shaft.

The lower plate, 0, supports a series of dies, 0, arranged at equal distances apart. Each of the said dies is formed concave on its upper surface and in section, as exhibited in Fig. 2, there being a passage, f, leading down through the die. This passage is to hold a tack whose shank, while the tack is in the act of being capped, extends down into the passage. \Vithin the said passage is a clearer or discharger, g, for aiding in expelling the tack from the passage and die after such tack may have been capped.

A spring, h, fastened to the bed-plate of the frame B, by being snapped against the foot of the clearer at the proper time,is caused to act with a percussive force, by which the clearer is made to expel the tack from the die. To this end the spring, during the rotary movement of the frame A, and at a proper period, is met by a stud, t", projecting from the frame. This stud while passing over the spring presses it downward,and on leaving it the spring will fly up suddenly and with force against the foot of the clearer, and will throw up the clearer, so as to cause it to drive the tack out of the die-passage.

Directly over each die 0 is a plunger, D, formed as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, the

foot of the plunger being concave, as shown at k. This concavity is surrounded by an annular surface, I, which, owing to its width operates to prevent the plunger from breaking away at the circumference of its cavity 16.

An elevating-spring, E, is applied to each of the plungers, which also has an adjustable stop ring or collar, F, fixed on it, such ring being for determining the height to which the plunger is to be raised by the spring, and this it does by being pressed against the plate a.

A cam, G, projecting from the neck of the frame B, 01' arranged in manner as represented-that is, directly in and over the path of movement of the heads of the various plungers-serves to press the plungers downward in succession as they may be moved around by the frame.

In the operation of this machine the frame A is to be put in slow revolution, or, in other words, at a speed as quick as will allow of its dies being supplied by an attendant in succession with tacks duly prepared for being capped. The cap for each tack-head consists of a small cup of soft metal which will fit on the head of the tack. By pressing the cup downward upon the die the sides of the latter will contract the edge of the cup and bend it underneath the tack-head, so as to fasten the cup or cap to the said head. The tacks, while the frame is in revolution, will be successively capped and expelled from the dies.

I claim as my invention in the above-dcscribed machine the following, viz

1. The combination of the rotary frame A and its dies G, plungers I), their springs E E, and clearers g and their operative mechanism with the stationary cam G, the whole being arranged substantially in manner and so as to operate as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

2. The combination of the rotary frame A and its dies 0, plungers D, and clearers g with the stationary arm G and the spring It and the stud i, to operate as specified.

JOHN G. RHODES.

Witnesses R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr. 

